Malicious email warning

by Joanne Clague

An email scam in which an Isle of Man resident was told they could have cancer is being investigated by UK internet crime authorities.

The email purported to be from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and suggested a sample of blood from a recent blood test had been received for research purposes, and that the results may indicate a cancer diagnosis. NICE says it does not process blood test results and does not collect or keep personal health data.

Health Minister Howard Quayle said: 'I wish to reassure the public that at no time would patients be contacted by email in relation to blood test results, serious diagnosis or illness. The resident has been supported and reassured by their GP. The advice is not to open the email should you receive it.'

The scam mail is sent from no-reply@nice.org.uk or results@nice.org.uk. These are not NICE mailboxes. The advice is to delete the email without opening it and not to click on any links or documents within it.

NICE has reported the scam to the UK's National Fraud and Internet Crime Reporting Centre, 'Action Fraud' and the Metropolitan Police.